For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Toronto's Favourite Night of Magic Finds New Home

After eighteen months and over sixty sold-out performances at SpiritHouse, master magician James Alan takes his acclaimed Magic & Martini to a new home. SpiritHouse, the popular upscale bar and lounge which also hosted the Toronto Institute of Bartending, closed its doors at the end of April in order to move out of the restaurant business and into the world of distilling. The show must go on! And so the show has found a new home in one of Toronto's lesser known cocktail lounges, Suite 114.

Suite 114 is almost a magic trick unto itself. A stone's throw from The Eaton Centre downtown, it is all but invisible, hiding in plain sight. Even with the address and GPS, there is only a golden silhouette of a martini glass frosted on a glass door to hint that you've found the right place. After finally climbing a winding flight of stairs, guests must solve a riddle to enter a passcode on a keypad. Inside, the menu features cocktails named after characters from Monty Python, Star Wars and the Marvel universe. For those willing to solve more riddles, there is even a secret menu.

Photos courtesy of Suite 114

The show is the creation of Grand Spirits, a new restaurant/distillery hidden away in Ontario's Headwaters region. It's a departure from your typical magic show in many ways. Each show is limited to thirty guests, meaning everyone can see everything. The audience is also welcome to take photos and videos during the show. After selling out nights in the town of Grand Valley, the show made its way to Toronto in 2017.

Photos courtesy of Grand Spirits

"James does beautiful, sophisticated, astonishing magic," says Jamie Stam, co-founder of Grand Spirits, "that combined with wit and charm and humour make for the perfect magic experience for adults. When everyone is trying to be family friendly, it's nice to have a special night out for grownups. And he does things that no one else can do." The show receives glowing ratings on TripAdvisor. "Brimming with wicked wit and calculated comedy", the show is "astonishing, thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining." James Alan has appeared on CBC, Rogers, CP24, Sun TV, CTV, The Naked News and his show Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks was featured at the Summerworks Performance Festival.

Photos by Tyler Sol Williams

Magic & Martini is continuing through the summer with a limited performance schedule. Tickets and information at www.magicandmartini.ca.